ODDO-P.O.D. (personal overboard device)

ABSTRACT

From the beginning of mankinds encounters with the sea there have been great perils involved with oceanic voyages and so few ways to protect ones self from them. Over the years as population has increased and more and more people are navigating waterways the demand for life saving devices has grown enormously. The devices that do exist are just adequate and very costly because you can&#39;t simply buy one device that contains all the components required for survival at sea. There is clearly a market for a device that has multirole capabilities and contains all the necessary components for surviving at sea.

BRIEF SUMMARY Background of the Invention

The present invention relates to saving lives when stranded at sea. This invention can and will be used by the private sector or government agencies such as the US Coastguard or military forces. It will play a vital role in saving lives when and where ever it may be deployed with its multifunction capabilities. The purpose of this device is to provide a stable platform and increase survivability when lost at sea. The ODDO-POD is intended to be a self contained survival unit which can contain the following essential survival items. The recommended items are a two man raft, flare gun, stobe light, smokebombs, dye packs, compressed air, water, GPS or cell phone food/water provisions and other safety equipment. The ODDO-POD will be offered to the general public for purchase as a fully equiped unit or an empty unit ready to be equiped. The ODDO-POD is a multipurpose utility device that will primarily serve as an emergency device but can also serve as a marker bouy with a dive flag for scuba divers. If a scuba diver becomes separated from his or her vessel they can deploy the contents of this device to increase there chances of survivability. The ODDO-POD can be stowed on any vessel that floats or flies over large bodies of water.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a stable platform increasing survivability when stranded at sea. This invention will contain all necessary items for increased survivability while waiting rescue. This device is a stowable, trowable or towable life saving unit with multifunction capabilities.

DRAWING DESCRIPTION: BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 This is a side view showing the unit in its assembled configuration.

FIG. 2 This is a side view of the unit depicting its separated configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION: DESCRIPTION OF THE ODDO-POD FEATURES

FIG. 1 is a side view of the POD showing my new design which is comprised of a POD base {1} secured to POD cap {2} via Latches {4}. POD flag pole is secured to POD cap via flag pole holder {3}. The POD is constructed of a light weight polyester resin cloth or a carbon fiber kevlar layup depending upon its application. This unit measures twenty four inches in height and twelve inches in diameter.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the POD showing the separation of the unit which is comprised of the following components tether rings {9} which tether POD cap {2} FIG. 1 to POD base {1} FIG. 1 via said tether {8} Both cap {2} and base {1} are sealed via base seal {11}. Cap lid {12} is secured to Cap {2} by release latches {∝}. The POD maintains its upright position while a float via a ballist {10} and contains a tow ring {13} that is embedded in the molded lead ballist. The ballist {10} can be removed from the POD by unscrewing for storage purposes. When reinstalling the ballist it simply screws into the female adapter which is part of tether ring {9} securing its self to the teflon spacer {7}. Custom flag pole {5} when removed from inside the POD can be installed by screwing into female adapter on POD cap, which is part of tether ring {9} via flag pole holder {3}. 

1. A Personal Overboard Device (POD) for any person that traverses water which can contain a two man raft, hand held GPS unit, flare gun, Hand held flares, dye packs, food/water provisions and other items deemed necessary for survival while awaiting rescue.
 2. The Personal Overboard Device of claim 1, wherein the device consists of two compartments an upper compartment known as the cap and lower compartment known as the base.
 3. The Personal Overboard Device of claim 2, wherein it is recommended that the upper compartment contain a hand held GPS unit, flare gun, hand held flares, dye packs, strobe light, food/water provisions, reflective mirror, and other essential items.
 4. The Personal Overboard Device of claim 2, wherein the lower compartment contains the two man raft with the inflator.
 5. The Personal Overboard device of claim 4, wherein the rafts inflater is a standard air tool sold over the counter with a universal air chuck that will fit any scuba divers BC.
 6. The Personal Overboard Device of claim 2, wherein the two compartments are fastened together with said draw latches.
 7. The Personal Overboard Device of claim 6, wherein said draw latches are fastened to upper and lower compartments with aluminum rivets.
 8. The Personal Overboard Device of claim 6, wherein the two compartments when unlatched and separated are held together with said tether.
 9. The Personal Overboard Device of claim 2, wherein the two compartments are constructed of polyester resin and biaxle 12 oz cloth.
 10. The Personal Overboard Device of claim 2, wherein a teflon spacer is attached to the bottom of the lower compartment.
 11. The Personal Overboard Device of claim 10, wherein the teflon spacer is attached with an adhesive locktite PL8X.
 12. The Personal Overboard Device of claim 2, wherein the upper compartment comprises a lid.
 13. The Personal Overboard Device of claim 12, wherein said lid is attached to the cap with draw latches.
 14. The Personal Overboard Device of claim 13, wherein said latches are fastened to lid and cap with aluminum rivets.
 15. The Personal Overboard Device of claim 2, wherein the POD base consist of a ballist weight.
 16. The Personal Overboard Device of claim 15, wherein the ballist weight is constructed of formed lead and is installed and uninstalled by means of a 3/16 stainless steel eyebolt that threads into a female coupler mounted in the POD base, also the ballist weight can be reduced in size if configured on the end of a 30″ long by ½″ sch. 40 PVC rod.
 17. The Personal Overboard Device of claim 3, wherein the upper compartment consist of a ½″ threaded female adapter which allows the flagpole to be threaded into during operation.
 18. The Personal Overboard Device of claim 2, wherein lower compartment can be flooded with water and thethered to said raft providing sea anchor benefits such as stability by keeping the bow of the raft into the oncoming seas.
 19. The Personal Overboard Device of claim 1, wherein the POD can be thethered to a diver and used as a dive marker indicating the location of the submerged diver.
 20. The Personal Overboard Device of claim 15, wherein the ballist weight can be removed and placed inside the POD by screwing into the threaded coupler located in the POD base for stowing.
 21. The Personal Overboard Device of claim 1, wherein the intire POD can be thrown into the water and used as a floatation device by a person in need of rescue. 